Maine to receive $26.6 million for transportation projects

STATEWIDE - Three transportation projects in Maine are getting a boost in funding from the federal government.

Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, announced that $26.6 million is headed to three regions of the state.

The U.S. Department of Transportation has awarded $11 million to the Western Gateways project in Kingfield, Woodstock and Fryeburg. Meanwhile, Waterville's Main Street revitalization project will receive $7.1 million and $8.2 million is earmarked for a statewide project aimed at upgrading traffic signals.

Over the past nine years, Maine has received more than $160 million in additional federal funding for transportation projects.

"And that's helped us rebuild roads and replace bridges, improve our ports and save our rail service in northern Maine," Collins said. She said that a comprehensive federal transportation improvement plan is what is really needed for the country.